USU on behalf Paul Parker & Newcastle City Council re dismissal [2014] NSWIRComm 1012

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: USU on behalf Paul Parker & Newcastle City Council re dismissal [2014] NSWIRComm 1012 Hearing dates: 29 January 2014 Decision date: 17 April 2014 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Stanton C Decision: Jurisdictional objection dismissed Catchwords: Unfair dismissal application - jurisdictional objection - series of fixed term contracts - respondent alleged no dismissal - employment ceased through effluxion of time - alleged breach of Award - nature of contracts examined - provision for mutual and unconditional termination of fixed term contract on notice in accordance with the Award - principles underpinning fixed term contracts considered - HELD - no basis for jurisdictional objection - applicant dismissed - unnecessary to consider other matters pressed by Union. Legislation Cited: Industrial Relations Act 1996 Industrial Relations (General) Regulation 2001 Cases Cited: NTEIU v University of Wollongong [2002] FCA 31; United Firefighters' Union of Australia v Country Fire Authority [2007] FCA 853; Ledington v University of Sunshine Coast FBAIRC PR937250; Worthington v Curtin University of Technology [2005] AIRC 357; Davis v RMIT University Student Union [2011] FWAFB 1992. Fisher v Edith Cowan University (1990) 70 IRC 206; Fetz v Qantas Airways Limited (1997) 77 IR 443 D'Lima v Board of Management, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (1996) 64 IR 19; Minister for Health v Ferry (1996) 65 IR 374; Dadey v Edith Cowan University (1996) 70 IR 295; Clarke v Mid North Coast Health Service [1999] NSWIRComm 435; Victoria v The Commonwealth (1996) 187 CLR 416; Andersen v Umbakumba Community Council (1994) 56 IR 102; Bruce v AWB Pty Limited No 2 (2000) 101 IR 296; National Union of Workers, New South Wales Branch on behalf of Mr Arvin Tubungbanua and Express Data Pty Limited [2005] NSWIRComm 57; Wurth, Ex parte; Re Tully & Craig (1954) 55 SR (NSW) 47; Pacific Waste Management Pty Ltd v Saley (1993) 51 IR 339 Category: Principal judgment Parties: New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines and Utilities Union on behalf of Mr P Parker (Applicant)